Multimorbidity identified in most Japanese home care patients
As Japan's population ages, more older adults are receiving home-based medical care, in which physicians regularly visit patients who have difficulty going to clinics or hospitals. Although multimorbidity has long been common among home care patients, few studies have assessed its prevalence in this population.
Japan's aging population has led to an increase in home-based medical care, with physicians regularly visiting patients who have difficulty accessing clinics or hospitals. Previous research on home care patients has been limited, so a team from the University of Tsukuba conducted a multicenter study to assess the prevalence of multimorbidity - the presence of two or more chronic conditions - among this population.
The study involved 506 adults receiving physician-led home care from medical facilities in Tokyo and Ibaraki Prefecture. Multimorbidity was found in 94.7% of patients, with more than half (57.1%) having four or more chronic conditions. Emergency home visits were reported by 13.2% of patients in the previous month, with patients having four or more conditions being more likely to require these visits compared to those with two or three conditions.
The researchers suggest that a simple count of chronic conditions could help healthcare professionals identify patients at higher risk of sudden health deterioration, allowing for more proactive care planning.
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